diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index ea99b183e..54e022a10 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ if (CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME MATCHES "Darwin")
   include_directories("/usr/local/include")
 endif ()
 
-if (EXISTS "/etc/arch-release")
+if (EXISTS "/etc/arch-release" OR NO_NCURSESW)
   add_definitions (-DNO_NCURSESW)
 endif()